The Lafayette Lady Hornets volleyball team will return three seniors this volleyball season as well as a new head coach. Sonya Land will continue the merry-go-round of coaches for the sport that has struggled over the past years. Land comes in as the head coach after coaching the junior varsity team last season. “I think the reason this program struggles is because every year they start out with a new coach,” said Coach Land. “A new coach comes and they have to learn the game. We haven’t had one coach long enough to build a winning team.”

But all that could change this season as Land will return a strong flux of players that includes three seniors. Joining the three seniors will be another senior, Natalie Land, who has not played volleyball at the school. “This will be Natalie’s first year in volleyball,” said Land, “but she is going to really help us.”

The Lady Hornets will have experience at the important positions which includes a good crop of spikers and setters, according to Land. “We have a lot of good spikers and setters to set,” she said. “In the past years I haven’t seen girls who could spike the ball but this year I actually have about four or five.”

Land feels the team is more motivated this year and that can only help the cause. “That has been the big difference I have seen so far in this year’s team,” said Coach Land. “They are wanting to play and they are moving much better.”

The new head coach likes the make up of this year’s team that she sees only good things ahead. “I may be wrong, I hope that I am not, but I feel this year could be our year,” she said. “I have really been impressed with this varsity team.”

Cara Young will shoulder the main setter’s role for Coach Land. “She is going to help our team a lot this year,” said Land. Kelsey Land is fully recovered from last year when she suffered a broken leg. “She actually came back from the injury at the very end of last year,” Land said. “She will be a big help to the team this year.”

Coach Land said she will use the Libero player this year and Jennifer Garcia will anchor that position. “She is going to help us there,” said Land. “She played there all last year and did a good job. Also, we have Carteshia Macklin back and she is just a freshman. She is going to be one of our main spikers.

The Lady Hornets team will include two ninth graders and two sophomores. “Right now I feel good about this team,” she said. “But, we will have to wait and see.

Oak Hall and Hawthorne will be new members of the district this season and Coach Land views Oak Hall as the team to beat for a district championship. “They are going to be the competition this year. But, also, in the past we have had problems with the Trenton, Bronson and Bell,” she said. “Well, actually we had trouble with all of them. I am not sure about Hawthorne and how good they will be. Hopefully, this year we can compete and be right up there in the district. It is going to be tough.”

The Lady Hornets will open their home schedule tonight with a junior varsity match followed by the varsity.